The U.S. Department of Agriculture has added Dukes and Nantucket counties to its list of counties eligible for disaster relief after suffering agricultural losses during last summer’s abnormally cool, rainy weather.
Last fall, Gov. Deval Patrick requested that Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties be made eligible for federal disaster loans.
In February, he made the same request regarding Dukes and Nantucket counties, which saw damage to nearly 80 percent of their tomato crops.
The USDA designation allows farms in those counties to apply for low interest loans and revenue assistance. Farms can apply for aid at local Farm Service Agency offices.
Â
